Please forgive me one more bit of family exploitation kvelling but the agency that created my nephews’ current Quaker Oats commercial just posted a five-minute short film about The Blisters that I think is too good to miss. It was directed by Project Greenlight director Scott Smith who is also the creative partner (with Chris Laubauch) of Chicago-based Element79. Click here to go to the agency’s website and then click on “Special Feature: The Blisters.” You’ll find the actual Quaker Oats commercial that’s airing (it will be on the Today Show again tomorrow morning) along with the funny “rockumentary” that Smith made about the band (watch for brief cameos of my sister and Jeff). Can a VH1 “Behind the Music” special be far behind? Are the band members peaking before they hit puberty?
Wilco played the 20th anniversary Farm Aid concert the other night in Illinois and were introduced by none other than Senator Barack Obama. The band gave him a Wilco poster that said “See you at the inauguration” and my first thought was not about what a future Obama presidency might mean to this country but about the panic my sister would go through about what to wear to the inaugural ball. Wilco playing at a presidential inauguration would be very cool but I’d probably never make security clearance if the secret service got wind of my blog.
I love that little documentary...thanks so much Chris for letting me see that.
When I saw Obama introducing Wilco...I freaked out. This means big things for the band, I'm sure. And if Sue needs help deciding what to wear to the inagural ball, I'm an expert at that sort of thing.
(ps: did Sammy make that sign?? Seriously, who thought to edit that out of the commercial?)
Posted by: Rosie | September 20, 2005 at 11:31 PM
Wilco trivia: They're mentioned in a song by my favorite (semi-active) group, Mother Hips. The song, "Smoke," seems to be about the joys of getting high to relieve the stresses of opening-act touring, and includes the line:
Wilco is up on the stage
A cigarette, a straight edge, and a jet plane
You and I
Must be hiiiiiiighhhhhhhh [stretched out over twelve syllables to simulate heavy THC intoxication]
The album it's from, Green Hills of Earth, is an absolute classic of California rock/pop, and belongs in the collection of anyone with Taste and Decency.
Posted by: Mikal | September 21, 2005 at 01:13 AM
OOOh, Barak Obama - oooh - I'll dance at that ball! What a celebration!
Will you invite me though, I wonder?
Posted by: Tamar | September 21, 2005 at 04:38 AM
oops - sorry - I mean "Barack."
Posted by: Tamar | September 21, 2005 at 04:39 AM
Hm...Barack as president.
Hm....Wilco at the inauguration.
Maybe the Blisters can open for them that night.
Posted by: The Retropolitan | September 21, 2005 at 04:49 AM
Rosie, those signs were all props but Sammy paraded them through the set brilliantly (almost getting flattened by cameras and booms in the process). His scenes made it into the earlier versions of the commercial but alas, Sam's a casualty of the cutting room floor.
Tamar, since we're probably both on FBI watch lists I have a hard time imagining either of us getting invited to an inauguration. I can't think of anyone I know whose closeted skeletons wouldn't derail a run for high office.
Retropolitan, I like the idea of the Blisters playing at the Obama Inaugural Ball, but I fear some 12-year-old Yoko Ono might break up the band long before then.
Posted by: Danny | September 21, 2005 at 09:33 AM
susie is always looking for a new thing to kvetch about for a week. this could be great!
Posted by: Greg | September 21, 2005 at 12:53 PM
Hmm. I looked all over the site to see if this video was still there but they must have pulled it. A shame. :(
P.S. Wilco rocks!
Posted by: Rebekah | October 25, 2007 at 04:18 PM